FL H6519

Authorizes the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office to pay $22,431,892.05 plus post-judgment interest and $60,000 in remaining costs to Evett L. Simmons as guardian of Dontrell Stephens for injuries sustained from a deputy's negligence.

Compensates Stephens for being shot four times by Deputy Adams Lin on September 13, 2013, during a bicycle infraction encounter; the final bullet severed his spinal cord and rendered him permanently paraplegic.

Amount represents a jury verdict from a trial held January 25–February 4, 2016, affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on January 10, 2018, with rehearing denied September 10, 2018.

Limits attorney fees to no more than 25 percent of the amount awarded and designates the total payment as sole compensation for all present and future claims arising from the incident.

Applies after the Palm Beach County Sheriff had already paid $200,000 toward the claim under statutory liability limits in Florida Statutes section 768.28.